Vancouver, B.C. - After completing a very successful 2004 race season we have worked hard this fall to recreate our success again for 2005. The first objective was to re-sign all of our 2004 riders for another year, which we have, as well as signing on another up and coming rider who burst into the professional ranks with great success!

With the re-signing of Danika Schroeter we have inked a deal to retain one of Canada's most successful newly emerging athletes. Danika posts some impressive and unprecedented statistics, 9 straight Canadian National series victories, the highest Canadian downhill placing at the World Championships in over a decade - 9th place. We look forward to being a part of Danika's success in 2005.

Also returning to the team for a third year is Eastern rider Eric Goss, who normally splits his time between the East and West coast. Besides being a member of the 2004 Canadian National team Eric also coordinates a kids bike clinic in conjunction with the school board in Eastern Canada.

Long time Giant rider, and newly crowned B.C. Provincial series Champion Brant Lyon returns to the Giant roster again for 2005. Brant finished the 2004 season with three straight Provincial series wins, which catapulted him ahead in the points race and enabled Brant to claim his second Provincial series Champion title in three years. We are confident Brant can continue his success again in 2005 as he shoots for the National series Championship crown to add to his trophy case.

New to the Giant Factory team is Quebec rider Luke Kitzanuk. Luke rode on our development rider program in 2004, posted some great results at the National level and was signed to our Factory team for the following year.

For the 2005 year, Giant Canada team riders will be competing in BC Cup Provincial series races, the Canadian National series, selected Norba races as well as North American World Cups.

Sean JenkinsRace Program DirectorGiant Bicycle Canada Inc.

Subway Team Gears Up for 2005

McKenzie Bridge, Oregon, USA - The Subway team returns this year as a US Continental Team with a mix of young talent and veteran racers. The team will kick off its season with a camp in Merced, California, February 25 - March 7, which will be open to additional guests from March 1-7. The camp will also overlap the first NRC race of the year McLane Pacific, which will serve as the team's first official race outing.

Seven riders will return from 2004 to the men's team, with the five new additions all under age 26. With only three riders over age 30, Subway will function as a development team, focusing on UCI races and top National Racing Calendar races in the U.S. "I'm looking forward to taking this group of riders to the biggest races in the US and teaching these guys to race and present themselves as pros," said returning Manager/Director René Wenzel. "We have some great young talent and some older guys who are really committed to the team. I think we'll surprise a lot of people this year."

New to the team is road convert Ryan McKenzie, a seven-time Canadian National Champion on the track from Calgary, Alberta.

"With strong direction, we expect this team to win a lot of races," said Wenzel. That direction will come from Wenzel himself, along with assistant directors Erin Hartwell (two-time Olympic medalist) and former racer Kendra Wenzel (team Saeco-Timex).